Examples of what families/whānau need to know about school/kura donations
What you can expect if your school/kura opts in to the donations scheme:
Key | Description |
X | If my school has opted in to the donations scheme, I cannot be asked for a donation and I don’t have to pay |
$ | I must pay for this if I agree to buy it |
D | If my school has opted in to the donations scheme, I can be asked for a donation but I don’t have to pay |
Enrolment
Fees for enrolment are unlawful. As enrolment is free, there can be no charge for anything associated with the enrolment process.
Item | Item Category | Key |
Application fee | Other | X |
Enrolment fee | Other | X |
Out-of-zone ballot fee | Other | X |
Bond | Other | X |
Operational costs
Boards cannot ask families and whānau for contributions to operational costs – these costs should be covered by the school’s operational funding, which is paid by the Ministry of Education.
Item | Item Category | Key |
Heating, lighting and water | Operational | X |
Soap, hand sanitiser, tissues | Operational | X |
ICT
Item | Item Category | Key |
Access to school/kura network | Curriculum | X |
Use of school/kura hardware | Curriculum | X |
Contribution towards devices such as tablets, smartphones, netbooks, laptops, Chrome Books | Curriculum | X |
Requiring students/rangatahi to provide software or pay for software licenses | Curriculum | X |
Requiring students/rangatahi to provide calculators | Curriculum | X |
Purchase of non-compulsory hardware or software | Goods and Services | $ |
Programmes and courses
Out-of-school extra programmes that are not part of the core learning programme (curriculum) are considered a good/service.
It should be made clear that participation is voluntary, and incurs a charge.
Item | Item Category | Key |
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) | Curriculum |
X |
Reading recovery and learning support | Curriculum |
X |
High school 'subject fees' | Curriculum |
X |
Specialist units (e.g. Montessori, Arrowsmith, Te Reo Māori, Gagana Sāmoa) | Curriculum |
X |
Supplementary programmes (e.g. Mathletics) | Curriculum |
X |
STAR courses | Curriculum |
X |
Tertiary-level courses offered as part of the school programme | Curriculum |
X |
Tertiary course (dual enrolment at tertiary institution) | Goods and Services |
$ |
Gifted education programmes | Goods and Services |
$ |
Resources and stationery
Item | Item Category | Key |
Textbooks | Curriculum |
X |
Workbooks (compulsory) | Curriculum |
X |
Workbooks (optional, when parents have agreed to purchase) | Goods and Services |
$ |
Photocopying/printing as part of core education programme (curriculum use) | Curriculum |
X |
Photocopying/printing (personal and not needed for core programme learning, extra-curricular use) | Goods and Services |
$ |
Stationery (if parents decide to buy from school/kura stationery shop) | Goods and Services |
$ |
Swimming
Item | Item Category | Key |
Swimming as part of general curriculum (at school/kura or off-site) | Curriculum | X |
Swimming as voluntary activity (lunch time or after-hours) | Goods and Services | $ |
Course materials
Schools and kura cannot ask parents/whānau to pay for materials used in delivering the core learning programme (curriculum). This includes cooking ingredients for a food technology class.
Food eaten as part of a food technology class is part of the core learning programme (curriculum) – this is because students need to taste the food they prepare to ensure it is fit for consumption (sensory evaluation).
Schools can charge parents/whānau for the cost of materials when they have agreed that the item can be taken home – for example, an item of clothing.
Item | Item Category | Key |
Materials used as part of delivering core learning programme (curriculum) | Curriculum | X |
Take-home component where parents have agreed to purchase (e.g. a letterbox or an item of clothing) | Goods and Services | $ |
Music
Item | Item Category | Key |
Tuition (course-related) | Curriculum | X |
Tuition (optional outside of general education programme, extra-curricular) | Goods and Services | $ |
Instrument hire (course delivery) | Curriculum | X |
Instrument hire (optional, extra-curricular) | Goods and Services | S |
Optional activities
Boards can charge parents/whānau for optional activities, like sports trips, that are outside the core learning programme (curriculum). Participation is optional, and schools can charge parents/whānau if they have agreed for their child to participate.
Item | Item Category | Key |
Visiting drama or music groups (non-curriculum) | Goods and Services | $ |
School sports teams | Goods and Services | $ |
After-hours/lunchtime/weekend culture or sports activities | Goods and Services | $ |
State-integrated schools/kura
Item | Item Category | Key |
Attendance dues – these are compulsory | Compulsory | $ |
School and kura uniforms
Schools and kura are not expected to make profits from school uniforms – they should recover only their costs.
Item | Item Category | Key |
School/kura uniform from a school/kura uniform shop | Goods and Services | $ |
Further guidance on school uniforms — Commerce Commission(external link)
School/kura events and publications
Students can attend this type of event if they buy a ticket. Students should not be stopped from accessing optional activities because their families/whānau have not paid for other items.
For example schools/kura should not require families/whānau to pay for sports costs or a donation towards the school camp before they can buy a ticket to the school ball.
Item | Item Category | Key |
School/kura ball | Goods and Services | $ |
School/kura magazines are optional to buy | Goods and Services | $ |
Camps, trips and outside education
Schools and kura can continue to ask for donations for overnight school camps if they are part of the core learning programme (curriculum). Such a request is for a donation.
Families and whānau can choose to pay the donation in full, in part or not at all.
Item | Item Category | Key |
Overnight camp as part of specific course (e.g. Year 12 Outdoor Education) | Curriculum |
D |
Overnight camp as part of general education programme (curriculum) (e.g. Year 9 orientation camp, Year 7 EOTC camp) | Curriculum |
D |
Overnight geography field trip | Curriculum |
D |
Trip/visit as part of general curriculum | Curriculum |
X |
Charge/fee for an optional event (e.g. weekend ski trip, extra-curricular) | Goods and Services |
D |
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